PESHAWAR: Advisor to Chief Minister on Tourism, Sports, Museums, Archeology and Youth Affairs, Amjad Afridi, has said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government would set up Rs200 million Endowment Fund for artiste community and come up with comprehensive cultural policy to address issues related to art and artistes. He was speaking as chief guest at a function at Peshawar Press Club here on Tuesday.The event was jointly organised by Cultural Journalists Forum (CJF) and Takhleeq Development Foundation (TDF) to mark Music Freedom Day. The day is marked on March 3. The advisor said stakeholders and experts would be invited to evolve a comprehensive cultural policy to safeguard rights of artistes and singers.Responding to demands by the artists and singers, Amjad Afridi assured that he would fulfill every single demand placed by them on priority basis. “Illegal parking will be removed by restoring Nishtar Hall in its original shape by carrying out its complete renovation,” he assured. Earlier, the office-bearers of the Takhleeq Development Foundation said the Department of Culture had remained neglected and had never been given serious thought. He said the PTI government was expected to contribute to art and culture of the province by creating more and more opportunities for young talent. Ihtisham Toru, president of CJF, told the participants that efforts should be made to promote local art and culture. Singer Zeek Afridi said it was time to get their voice together to safeguard interests and rights of artistes community. “Nishtar hall should be confined only to literary and cultural activities. Unfortunately, artistes are living under threats and joblessness. The PTI government should create restore and make Nishtar Hall functional and provide security to performers,” he said. Later, young Pashto singers, including Bakhtiar Khattak, Zeek Afridi, Humayun Khan, Shan Yousafzai and a new entrant from Swat Laila Khan gave live performance.
